August 2023

The 2023 National Heritage Week will take place from Saturday, 12th August, to Sunday, 20th August.

It is part of European Heritage Days.

This year, the theme will be "Living Heritage."

Projects and events will show the knowledge and skills passed from one generation to the next, which are still in use today.

Past times, crafts and old practices will be the main topics.

Mayo people proudly will make any efforts to share, enjoy and promote their sense of place and the natural and cultural heritage.

These events cater for all visitors to our County, families and children.

List of Events:

• Irish midwives and midwifery across the centuries, 20th August, from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm, National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar.

• Biodiversity in our town and village graveyards workshop, by Pauline Flynn, 12th August from 10 am to 1 pm, Curam Centre, Dalton Street, Claremorris.

• Bumblebee Heritage Walk with Elaine Reilly, 20th August, from 3 pm to 4.30 pm, Aldi Car Park, Belmullet.

• Sheep to Shawl: A Heritage Week Project by Annie Gambrill at Killala Wool Craft, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th August, from 12 pm to 4 pm, St John's Hall, Main street, Ballycastle.

• St John’s Graveyard Restoration - A History in Stone, by Colman O Raghallaigh, 18th August, from 7.15 pm to 9.15 pm, St John’s Church Claremorris Library, Dalton Street Claremorris.

• Utilising Traditional Instruments to Record Climatological Data, 12th August, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Michael Davitt Museum, Straide.

• Save Our Stories: A Celebration of Oral History in Achill Island, by Dr Angela Maye-Banbury, 16th August from 9.30 am to 2 pm, in Ashleam National School, Ashleam Achill.

• The Irishtown Piper, 19th August, from 12 pm to 11.30 pm, Irishtown Community Centre, Irishtown Claremorris.

• Listening out for Bats while Looking up at the Stars with Dr Kate McAney, in partnership with The Heritage Council, Dark Sky Ireland, 16th August, from 9 pm to 11 pm, Moorehall House, Muckloon, Carnacon.

• Mayo Dark Skies, Film and Talk, 19th August, from 12 pm to 1 pm, in W Cinema, Westport.

• A Commemoration of Members of the US Merchant Navy Crew from SS Rochester who drowned during World War I, 12th August from 2.30 pm to 5 pm, in Seanscoil Community Centre, Ballina.

• Traditional Stone Masonry with John Dunne, from 14th August to 18th August, from 2 pm to 4 pm, Under the Stretch Tent at The Coach House, Westport House.

• Traditional Basket Weaving and Woodwork, with Tom Delaney and Eoin Reardon, 12th August, from 11 am to 5.30 pm, Under the Stretch Tent at The Coach House, Westport House.

• Rope Making and Crafting, with Steffi Otto, 13th August, from 11 am to 5.30 pm, Under the Stretch Tent at The Coach House, Westport House.

• Holes in the Ground: The Karst Landscape of JCWL Geopark, 19th August, from 7 pm to 9 pm, The Crossroads Community Centre. Cong.

• Heritage Walk and Talk Through Westport Estate, with Head Gardener Sean Fahy and Gardener Terri Metcalfe, from 14th August to 18th August, from 11 am to 12 pm, Westport House.

• “Saol mar a bhi”, Life as it was, 13th August, from 2 pm to 4 pm, in Keelogues, Ballyvary Central National School, Ballyvary.

• Twilight Ghostly Tour of Westport Town, 17th August, from 8 pm to 9 pm, The Clock, Westport.

• Museum, House and Garden Tour, Turlough Park, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th August, from 2 pm to 3 pm, Castlebar.

• Guided Nature Tours at Turlough Park, 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th August, from 3 pm to 4 pm, Castlebar.

• Guided Walk on Newtown Forest Trail, with Michae; Kingdon, 15th August, from 7 pm to 9 pm, Newtown, Clogher, Claremorris.

• Burning The Big House, 1920-23, a talk by Professor Terence Dooley, 18th August, from 7.30 pm to 9 pm, Mayo County Library, Castlebar.

• Drystone Walling Workshop with Dominic Keogh, 12th-13th August, from 10 am to 4 pm, Kilmovee Community Centre.

• Horse and Donkey Day with breeder Colman Cogan and friends Ned and Ted, 19th August, from 11 am to 4 pm, Turlough Park, Castlebar.

• Nature Walk and Talk at Friarsground with Aengus Kennedy, 13th August, from 2.30 pm to 4 pm, Friary Abbey, Ballyhaunis.

• The Western Front Way-Cycling the Western Front of 1914-1918 from the Swiss Border to the Belgian North Sea, a talk by Dominic A. Pris, 15th August, from 7.30 pm to 9 pm, Mayo County Library, Castlebar.

• Customs and Cures-Mayo’s Holy Wells with archaeologist Tamlyn McHugh , 13th August, from 12 pm to 1.30 pm, Balla Holy Well.

• Admiral Brown History Trail, 19th and 20th August, from 11 am to 12 pm, Admiral Brown Monument, Foxford.

• Ballyglass Photographic Exhibition, 12th and 13th August, from 10 am to 2 pm, Ballyglass Community Centre, Claremorris.

• Explore Sheep Wool Traditions and Practices in Louisburgh_Killeen Area, 16th August, from 8 pm to 9.30 pm, Killeen Community Centre, Killeen.

• Gold Panning Demonstration with Andy Lewis, 20th August, from 12 pm to 4 pm, Ceide Fields Visitor Centre, Ballycastle.

• Handling and Care of Archives and Bokks with Benjamin van de Wetering, 16th August, from 11 am to 4 pm, Ballina Public Library, Ballina.

• In Search of the Dragonfly along the Breaffy Stream, 13th August, from 11 am to 1 pm, Breaffy House, Castlebar.

• Launch of Project “Traders on the Reek”, 18th August, from 8 pm to 9 pm, Staunton’s Pub, Lecanvey.

• Masonry and Lime Mortar Demonstration with Siobhán Sexton and Peter Conway, 16th August, from 11 am to 12 pm, Belleek Gate Lodge, Ballina.

• Memories of the Men who Built Britain with Ultan Cowley, 17th August, from 7.30 pm to 9 pm, Mayo County Library, Castlebar.

• “Afterthoughts”, a book reading by author Michael Lyons, 17th August, from 7 pm to 8.30 pm, Book@one Louisburg.

• Digitisation of Knock Shrine Annuals (1938-2015) for free public access online and in Knock Museum by Tom Neary, 13th August, from 5 pm to 6.30 pm, Knock Museum and Shrine.

• Explore Louisburgh’s River Life with Dr Ken Whelan and Ross Finlay, 17th August, from 10.30 am to 1 pm, at Louisburgh Bridge.

• Colouring History-Family Art Workshop with artist Betty Gannon, 19th August, from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm, The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar.

• A Tour of Hollymount Church with Ger Delaney of South Mayo Family Research and Mrs Brigid Clesham, 19th August, from 3 pm to 4.15 pm, Hollymount.

• Bi-Lingual Children’s Workshop with Jane Landy, 17th August from 11 am to 3 pm, Books at One Louisburgh.